Human knowledge, rules, and the spontaneous evolution of society in the social thought of Darwin, Hayek, and Boulding

Abstract

Listen

Translate article

In the social sciences, the label Darwinian often means a biological explanation of social phenomena. Both Hayek and Boulding adopt a Lamarckian approach to social evolution. Hayek shows that coordination of groups larger than hunting and gathering bands requires a cultural evolution of learnt rules. Boulding uses the notion of noosphere of human knowledge, where learning transmits the noogenetic structure. Hayek's and Boulding's Lamarckian theories are compared with Darwin's theory of social evolution to explore how the latter may be extended to explain the links between human knowledge, rules, and evolution of society, outlining a Darwinian social/cultural approach.